The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-03-19

often done this, and it only disappeared
for an instant to reappear in another
part of the room. So he left the lamp
burning and got into bed with his eyes
fixed on the figure.
This time Gridley had his sextant,
and seemed busy bringing an imaginary
sun down to an imaginary horizon.
The operation completed, the figure
turned to the bureau and seemed to be
making the calculation. Then he
turned to Durham, and shook his head
negatively, and dashed the sextant to
the floor. A sudden crack startled the
mate. He had turned the lampwick
too high, and the chimney had cracked
and fallen to the floor.
In the morning Durham was a little
nervous. However, having taken cup
or two of strong coffee, and, if it must
be confessed, thimbleful of brandy,
he felt more composed.
Joey Durham, the mates only child,
boy of ten years of age, almost al
ways accompanied his father on his
trips. This time Durham proposed to
leave him at home; but the boy seemed
so disappointed that his father finally
gave way, and they started together
down to the wharf.
What a busy scene is the departure of
an ocean steamer! Drays, buses, cabs,
carriages, rafting and laundering on
to the quay; mountains of luggage
piled upon the wharf, or being lowered
into the hold; stalwart Aliases stagger-
ing under the worlds of trunks which
they have shouldered; mates, crews,
porters, cabmen, passengers, boys, all
shouting Justify in solo or chorus; the
ships engine blowing off steam with a
deafening roar; timid ladies, making
their first trip, being led trembling
over the plank and up the stairway, and
laid on the sofas in the cabin; old voy-
ayers, with one leg over the rail, smok-
ing their cigars-all conspire to make
the scene one of rare excitement and
confusion.
joey was perfectly at home, and
while his father was busy, stole up into
the wheelhouse, which had incautious-
ly been left unlocked. The wheelman,
coming along soon after, met joey
stealing down the steps, looking scared
and guilty.
Now the gun is fired. The bell rings.
The hurry and confusion are increased
tenfold. Hasty farewells are said;
hasty kisses exchanged; handkerchiefs
are brought into vigorous use. The
throng of friends who have come only
to say goodbye" begin to pour over
the plank to the wharf. The captain
stands on the paddle-box. He stoops
and pulls handle; down in the depths
of the monster tinkles bell; in Sec
ond more the paddles dash the water
into foam. The captain stoops and
pulls the handle again; the paddles
stop, but the ship has started enough
to allow the cable to cast off. They
are all cast off but the stern cable
that still holds, and the head of the
great black monster swings slowly out
into the current. Another pull at the
handle, another splash of the paddles,
and the stern cable is cast off. The
gun sounds; she is loose! A cheer
from the crowd on the wharf, a cheer
from the crowd on deck, and the shir
was fairly turned down the stream and
begun the voyage.
In an hour she was at the mouth o.
the Willamette, and struck the strong
full current of the Columbia. Having
more sea-room now, she begins to use
her strength. The flames roar through
the flues; the engineer turns on full
head of steam; the clear, sweet water o
the river, cut clean and neat by the prov
is dashed into snowy foam by the pad
dies, and sinks and rises in a swelling
wake for half a mile to the stern. Fish
ing boats and Ind an canoes glide pas
her like shuttles, and before you cal
fairly turn to look, are tossing ant
rocking on the swell many rods be
hind.
, A black hull, supporting cloud o
. dingy-white canvass, is seen ahead.
is the Hudson Bay Company's store
: ship, bound for Vancouver A flash,
r cloud of white smoke, a heavy thud
{ and she has saluted the OroFino. !
2 jar and a thuuder-clap that startles tn
g old ones, and sets the ladies to scream
ing, and the Orc Elmo has saluted her
Three cheers from the stranger as tn
British flag runs up to the masthead
and three cheers as the stars and stripe
: curl and snap in the stiff breeze fror
g our gaff. Now that she has passed
0 and the sun falls full on her canva.
: she seems like great bank of sno1
e floating up the river.
e Nearly every body is tired of watcl
s ing her, and many have gone into tn
5 cabins to avoid the wind which is grow
ing chilly, and others are composin